Anti-bridging device for ice cube vending machines



June 8, 1965 I R. H. swA-R'r ANTI-BRIDGING DEVICE FOR ICE CUBE VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l w a e 0 June 8, 1965 R. H. SWART ANTI-BRIDGING- DEVICE FOR ICE CUBE VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,187,958 ANTI-BRIDGING DEVICE FOR ICE CUBE VENDING MACHINES Richard H. Swart, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to Louis D. Srybnik, New York, N.Y. Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,874 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-227) This invention relates generally to the field of particulate material handling, and more particularly to an improved anti-bridging device for use in conjunction with a dispensing hopper or container mechanism for the purpose of preventing the bridging of particles being dispensed above the moving dispensing means in such manner that operation of the dispensing means will not cause the material to be transported. While I have chosen to illustrate the invention in conjunction with a bin or container for dispensing ice cubes, it will be readily appreciated that the invention has application in the dispensing of a wide variety of other materials having a tendency to agglomerate, as, for example, particles of coal, fine powders, flour, and the like.

It has been found that in a bin containing ice cubes or other material to be discharged through a relatively small opening by means of a series of rotating spikes, or other conveyors, that there are two types of forces which will cause the material to break loose and drop down onto the discharging mechanism. A first force is caused by a small rapid distortion of the walls of the bin, to'

create a shock which tends to free the bridge, causing the material to drop. The second force is caused by a small movement of a bar or rod vertically or angula-rly disposed within the material.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved anti-bridging device which will incorporate means for creating the above described forces, whereby bridging within a dispensing bin may be conveniently eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved anti-bridging mechanism which will automatically operate simultaneously with the operation of a discharge mechanism, so that no additional attention is required on the part of the operator to activate the device.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved anti-bridging construction which may conveniently be incorporated into a wide variety of dispensing bins, with very little additional cost of manufacture.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved anti-bridging device which may be -conveniently incorporated-into existing hopper dispensing mechanisms with a minimum of modification.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that very little additional power is consumed in the operation of the anti-bridging device.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fullyjappear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic transverse sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional fragmentary view, as might be seen from the plane 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic transverse sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 1, but showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary schematic longitudinal sec- 3,187,958 Patented June 8, 1965 tional view as seen from the plane 44 in FIGURE 3.

*IGURE 5 is a schematic plan view showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view as seen from the plane 66 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 77 in FIGURE 6.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 in the drawings, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, is shown in installed condition within a bin element 11. The bin element 11 includes a front wall @12, side walls 13 and 14, a rear wall 15 and an upper wall 16.

Positioned beneath the upper wall 16 is a chute 17 which connects with an ice cube maker (not shown) or other source of supply of particulate material. Ice cubes 18 fall from the chute 17 as the same are made, to charge the bin element i i, and ultimately fall upon converging walls 19, 2t and 21 to fall within a recess formed by a curved bottom wall 22. An elongated feed screw element 23 is axially aligned with the bottom wall 22, the same being journalled in a bearing 24 in a vertical wall 25. The screw element 23 is driven by an electric motor 26 having an armature shaft 27 coaxially aligned therewith. Mounted on the shaft 27 is a pulley 28 which drives a belt 29 trained over a second pulley 30 on a second shaft 31. The shaft 31 is journalled in a bearing 32 in the wall 25', and a second bearing 33 on the wall 12 for rotation about an axis parallel to that of the screw element 23.

Extending radially from the shaft 31 at substantially uniform intervals are a plurality of spikes 34 which define a quasi-cylindrical area of operation generally indicated by reference character 35. Cubes 18 or other particulate material disposed within this area of operation tending to bridge or agglomerate will be immediately disturbed from such condition upon operation of the motor 26, so that the same may drop down directly upon the feed screw element 23.

interconnecting the side walls 13 and 14 are a pair of leaf springs 36 and 37, each having first and second ends 38 and 39, respectively. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the springs 36 and 37 are somewhat longer in length than the width of the bin as measured between the side walls 13 and 14, to permit limited flexing. As seen in FIGURE 2, the springs 36 and 37 are placed directly in the path of travel of several of the radially arranged spikes 34, so that with each revolution of the shaft 31, the springs 36 and 37 will be flexed to transmit a vibration to the sides of the bin, and the above-described shock action will be transmitted to the mass of ice cubes disposed within the bin element to break any bridging action existing.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional prefix l.

The second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in the modification of the leaf spring 136 which is secured only to the wall 113, and extends partially across the width of the bin. In this embodiment, the construction has the advantage of not requiring a critical location of the spring relative to the spikes, and also allows more vertical movement than that possible in the first embodiment. However, the second embodiment does not impart as much side movement to the walls of the bin, but this disadvantage is partially compensated for by the addition of a brace member 41 interconnecting the wall 113 with a medial portion of the spring 136.

In the third embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional prefix 2.

The third embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in the elimination of the shaft 31 and spikes 34, and instead there is substituted a disc 46 on the shaft 127 having a pair of spikes 47-748 which exert a camming actionupon a first leaf spring/t5. There are also provided second, third, andfourth leaf springs 5-4 51, and 52, respectively, and each leaf spring has a fixed end 53, 54, 55 and 56, respectively, one of each of said ends being interconnected to a side wall of the bin ele ment 211. The free end 59 of the spring 49 lies directly inthe path of the spikes 14-7 and 43, While the free ends 58, 59, and 6d of the springs 54 51,.and 52, respectively, overlie a portion of a spring disposed immediately therebelow, so that motion imparted by the spikes 4-7 and 48 is transmitted to all of the leaf springs 49-52, inclusive. Thus, by providing for a very substantial degree of .vibration;to the walls of the bin element, this force alone may be depended upon to eliminate bridging. i It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in anti-bridging mechanisms for preventing the agglomeration or bridging effect of particulate materials disposed within a dispensing bin. Owing to simplicity in design, the inventive constructions may be incorporated into a wide variety of dispensing bins with substantially no modification, and at very little additional cost. The operation of each of the embodiments is substantially automatic, and the devices will function upon initiation of the normally present dispensing Q means Within the bin element. Motive power is also provided by the prime mover means normally, present in existing constructions.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in thevart to which the invention pertains.

I claim: 1

Anti-bridging means for preventing the agglomeration of oppositely disposed walls surrounding said lower porpensing means at a lower portion thereof, and a plurality of op oistely disposed walls surrounding said lower portion, comprising: a plurality of elongated flexible members, each having first and second ends, one of said ends of each of said members being connected to one of said plurality of walls, ,a first of said plurality of members having a free end means contacting said free end for introducing a periodic movement thereto, a second of said plurality of members having a free end contacting a portion of said first member, to receive transmitted motion therefrom.

References Cited by. the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,587 12/28 Yarwood 22220l 'X 1,929,324 10/33 Martin 222234 2,633,133 I 3/53 Higgins 222238X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner, 

